Sheet-metal tubing.



W. P. LAWRENCE.

SHEET METAL TUBING.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. 19,1908.

Patented Nov. 2, 1909,

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

W/TNESSES f Www A TTOHNEYS W. P. LAWRENCE.

SHEET METAL TUBING.

APPLICATION FILED Nov.19,1908.

939,039. Patented Nov. 2, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

l q Y W/TNESSES /NVENTOR To all whom .it may concern:

:miran srArrEs PATENT orrrcn.

WILLIAM Pi LAWRENCE, 0F GOLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO.

sanar-METAL interne.

Bpeoiileatlon of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 2, 1909.

Application inea November 1e, isos. serial no. caesars.

Be it known that I, WILLIAM P. LAW- RENCE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Colorado Springs, the county of El Paso and State of Colorado, have in- -vented a new and Improved Sheet-Metal lubing, `of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to certain improvements in sheet metal tubing, and more particularly to a construction of tubing for use in the frames of window sashes, window screens, or for the uprights or transverse members of metal furniture, or for paneling or any other similar structure in which 1t may be desired to employ sheet metal tubing.

The main object of the invention is to so construct the tubing that all unsightly fastenings will be concealed and the tubular structure present an ornamental appearance.

A further object-is to so form the tube of separate sections, that the entire tube will be rigid Iand firm yet easily takenl apart or put together in the manufacture of .articles from the tubing.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which simllar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures, and in which-- Figure 1 is an end view of a tube constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective View of a portion of the tube shown in Fi 1; Figs. 3 and 4 are end views of tubes em odying slightly modified details of construction; Figs. 5 and 6 are perspective views of two members going to make up a further modified form o tube adapted for use in windowframe or screen frame construction; Fig. 7 is a lon 'tudinal' section through a tube constructie of the members shown in Figs. 5 and 6, said section being taken on the line 7--7 of Fig. 8; and Fig. 8 is a transverse section taken on the line 8 8 of Fig. 7. l l

In each and all of the forms illustrated in the accompanying drawings, my improved tube is formed of a plurality of sections, one of which is formed ofsheet metal and bent to bring the o posite edges adjacent each other but space apart, and a second section is disposed within the first-mentioned section and has its edges secured to the edges of the first-mentioned section. In connection with these two sections, I preferably employ a third section which, inthe forms pane of glass, a sheet of wire nettlng, or

any other plate, sheet or device which it is desired to secure to the remainder of the tube.

y The specific form of tube illustrated in Fig. 1 is rectangular in cross section, and the main portion or section 10 of the tube forms two adjacent sides of therectangle and approximately one-half of each of the twoA remaining sides. The two adjacent sides 11 and 12 of this section, which form -two complete sides of the rectangle, are each provided with -two inwardly-directed folds, plaits, or plicatures 13, spaced a short distance apart and extending longitudinally of the side intermediate the edges thereof. These folds or plicatures serve to .reinforce -the sides and prevent them from bending,

and they also serve to presentan ornamental appearance, inasmuch as they are spaced apart a very short distance so that the portion of .the material intermediate the twov bead 17. vThe two free edges of the sheetv metal forming slightl 15 .an 16, and the two beads 17 adjacent these free edges-each have an interior width substantially equal to the thickness of the metal.

- The second section 18 of the tube forms a diagonal brace within the section 10, so as to add rigidity to the structure. The ysection 18 Vis folded intermedia-te its side edges to form two substantially parallel pla-tes 19, lying diagonally of the tube and having the' folded edge disposed within the angle of intersection of the two sides 11 and 12 of the other section. Adjacent the centery of the tube, the two plates 19, 19, are bent away from each other at substantially ri ht angles and at their free edges they are fo ded back upon each other to form two beads 20, 20, which coperate with the beads 17 of the section v10, to hold the two lsections together. The two beads 20, 2Q, extend over and inthe section 10, terminate below theplanesofthe two sides4 edges and can be separated only Y the corner angles of the tube. The plates 19 beads 'and folds or plicatures.

close the free edges of the sheet metal forming the section 10, and the free ed es of the section 18 extend dovvninto the ads 17. In appearance the Youter portlons of -the beads 20, 20, are exactly the same .as they beads 14, 14 in the sides 11 and 12. The two sections 10 and 18 are held together .by the co-acting beads and anges at their free by relative longitudinal movement. The third, section 21 is formed of sheet metal bent to forma tube 22 of substantially one-quarter the cross sectional area of the main tube and dis osed between the dlverg- 'ing ends of the ates 19 of the section 18. The two sides o the'tube 22 complete the other two sides ofthe main ltube and are in alinement with the twsides 15 and 16 of the section 10. The other two sides of the tube 22 extend diagonally of the main tubel and form plates 23 lying between the two plates 19, 19. The plates 19 and 23 are r1gidly secured together in any su1table manner, as, for instance by a serles of 24, which may-be readily placed in osition before the sections 18 and 10 are rought together.

From an inspection of the outside of the tube, all four sides are exactly the same and no fastening members of any kind whatsoever are visible. No free ed es of the sheet metal are disclosed and the a jacent portions of the tube at each of the four corners are formed of the same iece of metal, so that there are no beads, anges. or ridges along of the member 18 by extending diagonally, rigidly brace the entire tube and the several si es are prevented from bein bent inwardly by the reinforcing actlon of the In order to additionally brace the tube and particularly to prevent the side portions 15 and 16 of the section 10 from belng bent inwardly adjacent the beads 17,. Imay, if desired, provide two separate plates 25, rigidly securedJ to the outer sides of the plates 19 by the bolts 24 and having their outer free edges 26 dis. posed in engagement with the sides 15 and 16 closely adJacent the beads. 17. These plates may be secured to the section 18 before the latter is brought into engagement with the section 10.

In the specific form shown in Fig. 1, all four sides `of the y structure present substantially the same appearance and they are all of the same size. If desired, one or more of the corners may be rounded, so as to form a tubular structure circular in cross section or having some square and some rounded corners. y

In the specific form illustrated in Fig. 3, I form the sections 10 and 18 identical with the corresponding sections shown in Fig. 1,

but in place of the section 21, Ivemploy a section 21, having th tubular portion 22* substantially sector-(shaped, otherwise thisl form of my invention 1s substantially the same as that shown in Fig. 1.

In Fig. 4, I have illustrated a further modification in which the com lete structure is circular in cross section. n thisform, I employ the section 18 substantially identical with Athe sections 18 of Figs. l1 and 3, and I employ the section 21* substantially identical 'with the section21of Fig. 3. In combination with these two sections, I employ a third section 10, which is joined to the section 18 by interlocking grooves and flanges, but the sectionv 10L differs from the l'section 10 in that'its outerperi heral wall lies substantially in the circum erence of a Icircle rather than forming the sides of a rectan le. As many folds or plicatures 13a and t e intermediate beads 14, may be formed, as desired, One of these beads 14a is preferably so disposed as to receive the folded edge of the section 18 and retain the latter and brace and reinforce the structure. In case I desire to employ my inventionl for a tube, upright, bar, or 'in any other similar or analogous form, I preferably` employ an arrangement of parts similar to the forms shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4,' but in case I employ my tube as a frame for a window,

screen, or panel, I preferably utilize thev plate or sheet of the Window, screen or panel, to constitute the third section and close one side of the tube.

4`In Figs. 5 to 8, inclusive, I have illustrated a tube outlined as the frame for a window, the edge of the pane of glass going i edges of the sheet metal forming the section,

and these two edges terminate 1n outwardly and backwardly folded iian es 29 lyin parallel to the outer surface o the tube an spaced therefrom a" distance substantiall e ual to the thickness of the sheet meta. T e two flanges are s aced apart to leave an opening or slot therebetween into which extend the other two sections of the tube. The

section 18" is formed of sheet metal folded to. present two substantially parallel plates 19", 19", which extend between the plicatures or folds '13, to brace the tube. The outer edges of the plates divergeand extend out through the openingin the side of the section 10b and are folded outwardly and then 'inwardly to form flanges 3Q interlocking with the flanges 29 of the section 10b, to hold the two sections against any relative movement save a longitudinal one. A plate of lass 31b extends between the outer diverging ends of the lates 19b and thus constitutes a section lling the opening or slot along the side of the t-ube. The plate of glass is rigidly secured to the section 18b by a bolt 24C extending through the two plates 19h, 19h, said bolt being placed in position before the sections 10b and 18b are assembled. The distance between the edges of the plates 19, 19 or 1,9", 19 may vary within wide limits, but in each of the forms illustrated, it will be noted that each plate is locked to the outer or main section by coactingflanges and that the space between the two plates adjacent these flanges, is filled by a third section which may constitut'e a permanent portion of the tube or which may be, to a certain extent, a portion of a panel,

screen or window. It will also be noted that in eachrand all of the forms shown, all of the free edges of the sheet metal are entirely concealed and that no fastening members of any kind whatsoever are visible. The second and their sections are rigidly secured together before they are brought into engagement with the first section, and the second section extends transversely of the first sec'` tion to constitute a diagonal or transverse brace.

Having thusv described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the structure and havi'nor its edges extending inwardly into the fold of the second-mentioned section and rigidly secured therein.

2. A sheet metal tubular structure formed of separate longitudinally-disposed sections, one of said sections having the opposite edges thereof spaced apart, a second section disposed within said first-mentioned section and formed of sheet metal folded intermediate its edges and having the fold thereof in engagement with the inner surface of the first-mentioned section opposite to said spaced edges and having its edges extending outward radially and interlocked with' the edges of the first-mentioned section, a third section disposed between the edges ofthe second-mentioned section and forming a portion of the outer surface of the structure and having its edges extending inwardly into the fold of the second-mentioned section and rigidly secured therein, and separate bracing means entirely concealed within said structure and including two plates rigidly secured to said second section and each having an edge thereof adjacent the correspondingI interlocking edge of the first section.

3. A sheet meta-l tubular structure formed of separate longitudinally-disposed sections, one of said sections having the opposite edges thereof spaced apart, a second section v disposedwithin said first-mentioned section and formed of sheet metal folded intermediate its edges and having the fold thereof in engagement with the inner surface of the first -mentioned section opposite to said spaced edges and havinr its edges extending outward radially and interlocked with the edges of the first-mentioned section, a third section disposed between the opposite edges of said second section and rigidly secured thereto, and separate bracing means entirely concealed within said structure and including two plates rigidly secured to said second section and each having an edge thereof adjacent the correspondlng interlocking edge of the first section.

In testimony whereof I have signed my nalne to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.l 

